Rooney Critiques Isak's Performance as Liverpool Faces Struggles
Former England and Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney has expressed concerns about British-record signing Alexander Isak's performance, stating that he is not doing enough to warrant a starting position over Hugo Ekitike for Liverpool.
The 25-year-old Sweden international joined Liverpool at the beginning of September from Newcastle for £125 million but has managed to score only one goal in seven appearances across all competitions, with that goal coming in the League Cup.
The recent defeat to Manchester United at Anfield marked Isak's third consecutive Premier League start without a goal.
In contrast, Ekitike, who was a substitute in the match against the Red Devils, has scored four goals for Liverpool, three of which were in the league.
"I wouldn’t play Isak; he hasn’t looked ready since joining from Newcastle," Rooney commented on The Wayne Rooney Show. "He hasn’t trained and missed out on a pre-season, which is crucial. While Newcastle were training, he was likely at home talking to his agent for hours trying to facilitate a transfer. It’s incredibly difficult to perform without a pre-season. While he may have done some training on his own, he is now facing the consequences. Based on his performances, he doesn’t deserve to play ahead of Ekitike."
The loss to Manchester United was Liverpool's fourth consecutive defeat in all competitions, marking the first time they have experienced such a streak since November 2014.
Despite winning the Premier League title last season and starting this campaign with seven consecutive victories, Liverpool has struggled to maintain consistently strong performances throughout matches.
Rooney added, "They’ve become a bit complacent. It’s easy to forget that Arne Slot, who won the Premier League, is still quite young at 46 years of age, and this is the first time he’s lost four in a row in his managerial career. During the match against Manchester United, I noticed him arguing with the officials on the touchline, which is unusual. We are beginning to see signs of pressure unfolding."
Concerns Surround Mohamed Salah's Form
Another issue for Liverpool is the form of their star forward Mohamed Salah, whom Rooney considers to be "among the top five greatest players in Premier League history."
Salah played a pivotal role in Liverpool's title victory last season, scoring 29 goals in 38 Premier League matches. However, he has struggled to find his usual form this season and had difficulty making an impact against Manchester United, a team he had previously scored 16 goals against in 17 matches.
"Salah has played numerous matches over the past few years and has been the main man, shouldering that pressure," Rooney noted. "There were uncertainties about his future at Liverpool, where he joined from Roma in 2017, until he signed a new two-year contract last April. However, it wouldn’t surprise me if he decided to leave the club next summer. I’ve enjoyed watching him play; he’s a fantastic talent, but the demands may have caught up with him. You may not want to acknowledge it, but it can happen, and suddenly you find yourself moving on."
Significant Win for Amorim and Manchester United
The victory for Manchester United was their first at Anfield since 2016.
Ruben Amorim has faced challenges during his tenure at Manchester United, but this win elevates the team to ninth place, just two points behind fourth-placed Liverpool.
"This is a massive win for the manager," Rooney said. "I’ve questioned his decisions, tactics, and the players’ commitment over this and last season. Winning at Anfield is no easy feat. The confidence this gives both the players and the manager is invaluable, and I must admit he got it spot on. I hope to see more performances like this. They are now just two points behind Liverpool, and I was impressed by their performance; we need to see this level of play consistently."